Tuesday night was a beautiful evening at Fidler's Green Amphitheater! Weezer and The Pixies co-headlined a show at and made us feel like we were right back in the 90s. These two alternative rock bands brought out people of all ages and had everyone rocking out!
Photos by Bridget Burnett (Instagram)
After a tone deafening Friday night, it was another fun filled day of amazing music on Saturday. Our first order of business was covering GWAR, with our lenses and camera protected we were prepared for an onslaught of fake blood and vial explosions of liquids. The band who traditionally is outfitted in full monster costumes came out and never let up. Nice way to set the tone for a full Saturday. Other notable early acts were The Vandals (who doesn't love The Vandals?), Desaparecidos and Joy Formidable. We still remembering catching Joy Formidable at the first Red Bull Sound Select show here in Denver about a year ago.
GWAR was an experience. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)
The early evening sets were highlighted by Jesse Hughes and The Eagles of Death Metal as well as legendary ska legends The Mighty Mighty Bosstone's who haven't lost their touch. A rather impressive early evening set by Cold War Kids had the Riot Stage pretty packed. We have had a chance to see the band a handful of times and must say this was one of their best so far. A short break finally gave us a chance to enjoy the carnival atmosphere by indulging in corn dogs and funnel cakes and while witnessing people attempt to prevent from throwing up after getting of the dizzying rides. (Luckily we didn't see anybody)
Desaparecidos rocking out. (Photo Credit: Matt Smith)
The joy of watching Ritzy and A Joy Formidable. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)
The evening gave us memorable performances by Alkaline Trio, The Pixies, and Run DMC who brought out all the old school hip hop hits. The Main stage support brough out headliners Modest Mouse and Rancid each paying tribute to an array of hits from each of their catalogs. Rancid played the entire "...And Out Come The Wolves" album garnering a slew of applause and crazy mosh pit.
Saturday's Best Photos: Robert Castro, Matthew Smith and Liz Whitman
The first wave of lineup announcements for this years Riot Fest Denver have just been announced. We thought we would share our initial observations on some of the names that made the list. The three day festival is set to take place August 28-30 at The National Western Complex. Tickets are currently on sale and be on the lookout for a few ticket giveaways courtesy of your good friends here at Ultra5280.
Source: RunDMC.Com
The lineup includes hip hop pioneers De La Soul, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, Run DMC, GZA and Ice Cube and Special Guests. This can almost make a lineup for those crazy Summer Jams they have at Fiddler's. These are some of the groups I grew up listening to so seeing them years later will definitely bring back some nostalgia. Rumor has it Snoop will be playing the whole Doggystyle record in it's entirety. I remember skipping school just to out and buy this record.
Press Photo
Leave it to us to provide for some of the most obnoxious puns. With a new record just released (you can read our review here) Issac Brook and company will be making an appearance at this years festival. Modest Mouse has always garnered this mysterious cult like following all while remaining true to themselves in many ways. We cannot wait to hear a full crowd sing-a-long of "Float On". This will separate the real Modest Mouse fans from those who only know this song.
Photo: Alex Marks
These Texans have always maintained a special place in our hearts. With emotional driven melodic pop symphonies, they draw your attention from the get go. Perfect music for those rainy days (Denver has had it's fair share as of late). What better place to see these Texans than at The National Western Complex. For those of you unfamiliar you can find the bands work on many film and television shows including Friday Night Lights. Hearing "Your Hand In Mine" live is already sending chills down our spine.
Carmel Zucker Getty Images
Third time is a charm. When this was announced as the venue a few months ago there were your typical grumblings about the lack of camping, smell of horse shit, the allergy inducing atmosphere, I could go on. We say lets live outside the box and try something different every year. This time instead of horses and rodeo clowns we will have Iggy Pop and Jack Black, seems like a fair trade off. Besides we cannot wait to see some of the western themed outfits that may come from this.
We all want to know who else will be headlining this year! (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)
There are still a couple artist to be announced. We love the anticipation, for all we know it could be somebody like Faith No More (who actually just booked a Red Rocks show this summer) to Drake (this dude has showed up at every festival anyway so why not). His dad was in town this past weekend, maybe he was doing some scouting who knows! I think this is the first festival where I have seen a non-EDM artist on the bill, which is a little weird. We would love to see some local love by including a few notable acts....pssst...Wiredogs!
